The experience of wearing eyeglasses should be comfortable, yet many people encounter persistent pain or irritation behind the ears. This discomfort often arises from an ill-fitting frame that places undue stress on the head. Addressing this involves understanding the source of the problem, making careful at-home adjustments, or utilizing external comfort aids. This guide offers practical steps to make your glasses feel more comfortable for all-day wear.
Understanding Why Glasses Cause Ear Discomfort
Discomfort behind the ears is generally caused by excessive pressure, friction, or poor weight distribution. When the frame is too narrow, the temple arms—the shafts that run along the side of the head—press too tightly into the skull, leading to a pinching sensation. This pressure is often focused where the eartip, the curved end of the arm, wraps around the back of the ear.
If the glasses are too loose or the eartips are not curved enough, the frame slides down the nose. This constant movement causes the arms to rub and chafe against the skin, leading to irritation and soreness. Furthermore, heavy frames, especially those with thick prescription lenses, can exert significant downward strain. This disproportionate weight distribution forces the ears to bear the burden, resulting in fatigue and pain.
Simple At-Home Adjustments to Temple Arms
Adjusting the shape of the temple arms can often alleviate discomfort by redirecting pressure points. For plastic (acetate) frames, which are less flexible, you must warm the material to prevent snapping. Run the temple arms, specifically the eartips, under warm water for 30 to 60 seconds, ensuring the lenses remain dry, or use a low-heat hairdryer.
To loosen a frame that is pinching, gently bend the warmed eartip slightly outward and upward to create a wider curve. If the glasses are too loose and sliding, bend the eartip inward and downward to tighten the curve, which grips the ear more securely.
Metal frames are more malleable and can be gently manipulated by hand without heat, but proceed slowly to avoid metal fatigue. For both materials, adjustments should be minor and incremental, as over-bending can permanently damage the frame.
Utilizing Comfort Accessories and Sleeves
When minor adjustments are insufficient or impossible due to the material, external accessories provide cushioning and grip. Soft silicone ear hooks or sleeves slip over the existing eartips of the glasses. These accessories serve two primary functions: they reduce direct pressure on the skin by providing a plush barrier and they increase friction to prevent sliding.
Anti-slip wax or specialized balms can be applied directly to the undersides of the temple arms and nose pads to enhance grip, stopping the frame from slipping. By preventing slippage, these products indirectly relieve the downward pressure that causes ear pain. Additionally, adjustable eyewear retainers and straps are available for active individuals, ensuring the glasses remain firmly in place without relying solely on the ears for support.
Knowing When to Visit the Optician
While at-home fixes address minor issues, certain frame problems require professional intervention and specialized equipment. If the frame is severely twisted, crooked, or unevenly seated, a complex realignment is needed to restore the optical center of the lenses. Incorrect alignment can distort vision and lead to headaches, indicating a problem beyond simple comfort.
An optician is trained to use controlled heat and specialized tools to make precise adjustments without risking damage. Furthermore, if the frame width is too small or too large for your head, no amount of bending will fix the problem, and a professional consultation is necessary. Opticians can also perform adjustments that maintain the frame’s warranty, which may be voided by at-home attempts to bend or heat the material.